FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Question: Who can apply to transfer
a registration number to another vehicle?
Answer: Any individual who owns a vehicle can apply
to have the registration number transferred
onto another vehicle unless the registration number is non-transferrable
or if the
vehicle has a 'Q' or 'NIQ' plate.
Question: Does my vehicle
have to be taxed and tested in order to transfer a number?
Answer: Generally the vehicle should be taxed and tested
but a transfer can still be done if the
licence for the donor vehicle has expired not more than
6 months prior to the date of the
application to transfer.
Question: How will the
donor vehicle be registered after the transfer is done?
Answer: The donor vehicle will be allocated a replacement
number when the transfer is complete.
The replacement number will be an age related plate unless
the vehicle was registered
prior to 1963 in which case it will receive a dateless non-transferrable
number.
Question: Can a registration
number be transferred from a car to a motorcycle?
Answer: Yes they can now. As of October 2001 it is now
possible to transfer registration numbers between cars and
motorcycles.
Question: Can a registration
mark be transferred from any type of vehicle?
Answer: Registration marks can be transferred from most
types of vehicle apart from vehicles that
are of a type that does not normally require testing e.g.
milk floats or agricultural
machines.
Question: What documents
are required to transfer a registration mark to another vehicle?
Answer: The documents required are:
Both the donor and recipient V5's (registration documents).
Both the donor and recipient MOT certificates (if applicable).
A V317 (transfer application form signed by both parties).
Insurance Certificates and V10 (application form for tax)
if the vehicles are not currently taxed.
Question: What is a Retention Certificate?
Answer: A retention certificate allows the registered
keeper of a vehicle to hold its registration
mark separate from the vehicle on paper.
Question: How long is a
Retention Certificate valid for?
Answer: A Retention Certificate is valid for one year
initially but it is possible to purchase
extensions for as long as you want to hold the number on certificate
(If the registration
number is not assigned to a vehicle and the 12-month period
expires then the number is lost).
Question: Why is the transfer fee
set to EITHER £80 or £105 ?
Answer: The Department of Transport charge a fee to transfer
numbers. If a number is going from vehicle to vehicle it will
be an £80 charge and if it involves a retention certificate
it will be £105.. Whilst our customers normally advise
us whether the number is on a retention certificate or not,
we can only confirm the current status at the point of enquiry
because a customer may move it to a retention certificate
after asking us to sell it for them.
